EPA: Manitowoc and Door Counties in Wisconsin Now Meet Smog Standards

CHICAGO (July 13, 2010) — U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 5 has approved requests from the state of Wisconsin to redesignate Manitowoc and Door County as attainment areas for the national health-based eight-hour outdoor standard for ozone. Ground level ozone is commonly referred to as smog.

"EPA congratulates Wisconsin on sound air quality planning and effective pollution control measures that helped Manitowoc and Door counties attain the health-based ozone standard. Thanks to the state’s efforts, the residents of these counties are breathing cleaner air,” said EPA Regional Administrator Susan Hedman.

"Under my Administration, we have taken strong action to reduce air pollution in Wisconsin and protect public health and the environment," Governor Doyle said. "Meeting these standards not only means cleaner air, but also ensures that local businesses will be able to grow and create jobs."

EPA reviewed three years of complete, quality-assured, outdoor air monitoring data for 2006, 2007 and 2008 as part of the analysis to determine whether the areas meet the standard. Complete quality-assured monitoring data for 2009 show that the areas continue to meet the standard.

EPA also approved Wisconsin’s plans to continue to meet the eight-hour health-based ozone standard in these areas through 2020 and approved motor vehicle emission budgets for Manitowoc and Door counties.

Smog is formed when a mixture of pollutants react on warm, sunny days. The pollutants are released from cars, factories and a wide variety of other sources. Smog can cause respiratory problems, including coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath and chest pain.